CA1301866C - Microwave connector - Google Patents

Microwave connector

Info

Publication number
CA1301866C
CA1301866C CA000593310A CA593310A CA1301866C CA 1301866 C CA1301866 C CA 1301866C CA 000593310 A CA000593310 A CA 000593310A CA 593310 A CA593310 A CA 593310A CA 1301866 C CA1301866 C CA 1301866C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
microwave
connector
central
contact
central contact
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000593310A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
James Duncan Shaw Martin
Grant Thompson Rounding
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WL Gore and Associates Inc
Original Assignee
WL Gore and Associates Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by WL Gore and Associates Inc filed Critical WL Gore and Associates Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1301866C publication Critical patent/CA1301866C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/38Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
    • H01R24/40Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts specially adapted for high frequency
    • H01R24/52Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts specially adapted for high frequency mounted in or to a panel or structure
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/46Bases; Cases
    • H01R13/52Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
    • H01R13/523Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases for use under water
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00Two poles

Landscapes

  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT MICROWAVE CONNECTOR The microwave connector, for use in providing a microwave connection between two environments separated by a barrier and also capable of functioning as a seal should the connecting cable systems be breached, is provided with an insulating sleeve (24) located within a central opening extending throughout the length of the body (10) of the connector. A central contact (28) is pressed into the insulating sleeve (24) causing the sleeve to expand radially creating a dimensional interference between the central contact (28), the insulating sleeve (24) and the connector body (10). See sole Figure

Description

13ol866 I

MICROWAVE C()NNECTOR
. _ .

The present invention relates to a microwave connector for use in providing a microwave connection between two environments separaeed by a barrier, the connector also functioning as a sesl should the connecting systems he breached. The invention will be described with particular reference to an embodiment thereof in which the microwave connector is of subminature 'A' type (SMA
type) conflguration, it being understood that this is in no way intended to limit the scope of the said invention.

The invention originates from a requirement for a microwave connector to operate within a submarine mast environment. Modern submarine mast design dictates the placement of electronic equipment in an electronics pod at the mast head connected by microwave transmission lines to processing equipment in the hull. Thi~
arrsngement creates the requirement for a connector capable of providing a microwave connection through a pressure boundary without compromising the nature of that boundary, the boundaries concerned being the fiubmarine hull and the mast ~unction of the electronics pod. ~ence in normal use the connector is required to function in the conventional manner while preventing the penetration of water, pressurised or otherwise, through ~' ~3~)1866 the boundaries should the mast head or connecting cable systems be breached.

In the past microwave connections through boundaries have been facilitated by the use of small lengths of semi-rigid coaxial cable that protrude either side of the interface. In this construction female SMA
"bullets" are soldered to the centre conductor, one at each end of the semi-rigid coaxial cable, before the cable is housed in a metal sheath. This solder joint forms part of the pressure seallng and is a weak link giving rise to reliability problems during installation and normal service. This problem ~s further compounded by the need to have two such solder ioints within each construction.

The present invention does not rely on this kind of ~oint to provide the pressure sealing characteristics of the connector. Moreover, connectors embodying the invention provide enhanced Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) performance up to 40GHz while the design of che connector as a disaster seal enables it to withstand a pressure differential of up to 1000 PSI (6.~9 x 106 Nm 2), A further fldvantflge of such connectors is ~hat it is possible t~ pre-test the sealing characteristics of each connector before attaching microwave 13~)~86~

transmission lines or before installation in a particular barrier so that differing bulkhead requirements may be accommodated.

Although the present invention originated from a consideration of the problems of microwave transmission in submarine mast environments, connectors embodying the invention are equally suited to other applications wherein a microwave connection is required between two environments, possibly of differing chemical composition or under different physical conditions, and separated by a barrier or bulkhead.

According to the present invention there is provided a microwave connector for use in providing a microwave connection between two environments separated by a barrier, the connector also capable of functioning as a seal should the connecting csble systems be breached, the connector comprising a connector body hsvi.nR a central opening extending throughout its length, fl central contact located within said central openi.ng and connecting means also located therein to prov;.de a suitsble connection for the transmission of microwaves between a transmission line on one side of said barrier and said central contact, and having an insulating sleeve within which said central contact is located and which ensures an interference fit within said central.
opening between said central contact, said insulating sleeve and said connector body.

A microwave connector embodying the invention will now be particularly described, by way of example, w;th reference to the accompanying single Figure of the drawing which is a cross-sectional view of the microwave connector.

The microwave connector is shown in the Figure to comprise A connector body 10, situated within an opening 12 in a barrier 14, and held in place by a retaining nut 16, the barrier 14 serving to separ~te the two environments 18 and 20. The connector body 10 termin~tes in a standard SMA connector 22 and has central opening therein which extends throughout the length of the connector body, the dia~eter of the central opening being such thflt it slidably receives insulating sleeve 24. Insulating sleeve 24 abuts rear insulator 26 also located within the central opening but in a region of increased internal diameter. The insulflting sleeve 24 and the rear insulator 26 are both preferably of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or a material with similar mechanical and dielectric properties. The mechanical proper~ies of PTFE, together ~30~866 with its low dielectric loss, combine to provide the connector with enhanced pressure sealing properties while maintaining a mode-free operation characteristic at microwave frequencies of up to 40 GHz.

Central contact 28 is rod-shaped and has a diameter that is standard within SMA connector technology and a tip portion 30, of reduced diameter, which forms the central contact within SMA connector 22. The internal diameter of insulating sleeve 24 is toleranced such that an interference fit exists between the central contact and the sleeve. The central contact 28 is pressed, via a support guide, into the central opening of insulating sleeve 24 until the tip portion 30 protrudes from the sleeve forming part of SMA connector 22. Thls operation radially expands the insulating sleeve causin~ a dimensional interference between the sleeve and the connector body 10 thus providing the presæure sealing characteri6tics of the connector. A twofold advantage of the connector described is thflt these sealing characteristics are not reliant on solder ioints or adhe6ive flnd may be fully tested before attachment to any existing microwave transmission lines or before installation in a particulflr barrier so that any bulkhead requirmen~ may be accommodated.

130~866 The microwave transmission line to be connected through the boundary is shown in the Figure as coax;al cable 32 the central conductor 34 of which is soldered tO contact bucket 36. Contact bucket 36 is received within insulator 26 and is attached to central contact 28 by means of screw threads. Both contact bucket 36 and central contact 28 are preferably of the same material, such as gold plated brass or more preferably, a gold plated beryilium-copper alloy. Coaxial cable 32 is held by an SMA hat 38 and SMA retaining nut 40. This retaining means obviates the need to over-tighten the contact bucket 36 on to central contact 28 causing the central conductor 34 of the coaxial cflble ~o twist, the retaining means also immobilizing coaxial cable 32 thus enhflncing the reliability of the solder joint between the central conductor 34 and the contact bucket.

A further microwave transmission line (not shown) may be attached to SMA connector 22, if provided with suitable connecting means for mflting therewith, thus completing the microwsve connection between environments 18 and 2~
without loss of transmission characteristics and without compromising the nature of the boundary.

The connector will now be further described by reference to particular dimensions, it being understood that any ~30~866 dimensions so given are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

The central opening within the connector body lO, between SMA connector 22 and rear insulator 2~, is preferably of constant diameter and further preferably has a diameter of about 4.06mm (0.160 inch). Central contact 28 has an overall length of approximately 59.74mm (2.352 inches~ of which about 2.16mm (0.085 inch) is taken up by the tip portion 30, and about 4.75mm (0.187 inch) by the threaded portion at the opposing end. The decreased diameter of the tip portion i6 approximately O.91mm (0.036 inch), while the diameter of the remainder of the central contact is approximate~y 1.27mm (0.050 inch). The above dimensions dictate much of the size and shape of insulating sleeve 24. In order to achieve a slide fit within the central opening of the connector body the outer diameter of the sleeve is Also approximately 4.06mm (0.160 inch). The internfll diameter of sleeve 24 is made approximately 1.17mm (0.046 inch) so that about ~ O.lOmm (0.004 inch~
interference exists within said internal diameter. It has been shown that an interference fit of the kind described above gives rise to 8 connector capable of withst~nding a pressure differential of up to 6.89 x 106 Nm 2 (1000 PSI) at ambient temperature. It is 130~866 expected that this pressure differential can be maintained over a temperature range from -40C to +70C.

Contact bucket 36 has an overall length of about 11.33mm (0.446 inch). The section of smaller external diameter has a length of about 5.49mm (0.216 inch) and an external diameter of approxima~ely 2.18mm (0.086 inch), this section receiving the threaded portion of central contact 28 flnd being received by rear insulator 26. The rear insulator has a length of spproximately 6.27mm (0.247 inch) flnd an external diameter of about 6.96mm (0.274 inch) and is located abutting the insulating sleeve within a region of the connector body in which the central opening therethrough has a diameter of approximately 6.99mm (0.275 inch~. Central contact 28 passes through a central opening within rear insulator 26 of approximate diameter 1.30mm (0.051 inch) hefore being received in fl threaded opening, about 5.08mm (0.200 inch) ln length, within the contact bucket, the contact bucket also being received in fl centrfll opening within the rear insulator but of approximflte diameter 2.21mm (0.087 inch~. The contact bucket and centrfl]
contact are attflched by means of the screw threads which are preferably of 12 B.A. type.

~301866 The section of contact bucket 36 of larger external diameter is about 5.84mm (0.230 inch) in length snd has an external diameter of approximately 3.05mm (0.l20 inch). Within this section is a central opening of approximate diameter 2.18mm (0.086 inch) wlthin which coaxial cable 32 is attached to the contflct bucket by means of a solder joint.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a pflrticular embodiment, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention is in no way limited to coaxial connectors of , SMA type configuration but is equally applicable to other types of microwave connector.

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A microwave connector for use in providing a microwave connection between two environments separated by a barrier, the connector also capable of functioning as a seal should the connecting cable systems be breached, the connector comprising a connector body having a central opening extending throughout its length, a central contact located within said central opening and connecting means also located therein to provide a suitable connection for the transmission of microwaves between a transmission line on one side of said barrier and said central contact, and having an insulating sleeve within which said central contact is located and which ensures an interference fit within said central opening between said central contact, said insulating sleeve and said connector body.
2. A microwave connector according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a contact bucket attached to said central contact by means of screw threads and connected to said transmission line by means of solder.
3. A microwave connector according to claim 2 wherein said central contact and said contact bucket are of gold-plated brass.
4. A microwave connector according to claim 2 wherein said central contact and said contact bucket are of a gold-plated beryllium-copper alloy.
5. A microwave connector according to claim 1 wherein said insulating sleeve is of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or a material with similar mechanical and dielectric properties.
6. A microwave connector according to claim 1 wherein said connector body and said central contact terminate in a standard SMA type connector.
7. A microwave connector according to claim 1 wherein said interference fit is approximately 0.010 mm (0.004 inch) interference fit within said central opening between said central contact, said insulating sleeve and said connector body.
8. A microwave connector according to claim 1 wherein said central opening within said central connector body has a diameter of approximately 4.06 mm (0.160 inch) substantially throughout the length of the portion containing the insulating sleeve; and wherein said central contact has a diameter of about 1.27 mm (0.050 inch) substantially throughout its length.
9. A microwave connector according to claim 1 wherein said transmission line on one side of said barrier is held by SMA retaining means.
10. A microwave connector according to claim 1 wherein said transmission line on one side of said barrier is a coaxial cable.
CA000593310A 1988-03-12 1989-03-10 Microwave connector Expired - Lifetime CA1301866C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8805913A GB2215530B (en) 1988-03-12 1988-03-12 Microwave connector
GB8805913 1988-03-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1301866C true CA1301866C (en) 1992-05-26

Family

ID=10633322

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000593310A Expired - Lifetime CA1301866C (en) 1988-03-12 1989-03-10 Microwave connector

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0449817B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0727784B2 (en)
AU (1) AU3420889A (en)
CA (1) CA1301866C (en)
GB (1) GB2215530B (en)
HK (1) HK122193A (en)
WO (1) WO1989008935A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5802710A (en) * 1996-10-24 1998-09-08 Andrew Corporation Method of attaching a connector to a coaxial cable and the resulting assembly
US5944556A (en) * 1997-04-07 1999-08-31 Andrew Corporation Connector for coaxial cable
US6024609A (en) * 1997-11-03 2000-02-15 Andrew Corporation Outer contact spring
ES2218103T3 (en) 1999-01-20 2004-11-16 Akzo Nobel Coatings International B.V. ANTIINCRUSTANT PAINT.

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US938402A (en) * 1908-03-20 1909-10-26 Edward L Watrous Spout.
GB938402A (en) * 1959-09-11 1963-10-02 Sealectro Corp Improvements in or relating to electrical socket contacts
GB1199104A (en) * 1968-07-04 1970-07-15 M O Valve Co Ltd Improvements in or relating to Radio Frequency Connectors
US3678447A (en) * 1970-06-17 1972-07-18 Amp Inc Coaxial cable connector sub-assembly
US3828303A (en) * 1972-09-28 1974-08-06 Bunker Ramo Coaxial connector
GB1539470A (en) * 1975-11-13 1979-01-31 Tektronix Inc Electrical connector
GB1537476A (en) * 1975-11-14 1978-12-29 Evans D Electrical feedthrough devices
US4125308A (en) * 1977-05-26 1978-11-14 Emc Technology, Inc. Transitional RF connector
JPS5485389A (en) * 1977-12-21 1979-07-06 Kouenerugii Butsurigaku Kenkiy Insulated coaxial vacuum terminal
US4355855A (en) * 1979-02-07 1982-10-26 Dimitri Rebikoff Deep water connector
US4502749A (en) * 1983-12-01 1985-03-05 Amp Incorporated Coaxial connector for microwave packages
FR2591040B1 (en) * 1985-11-29 1988-01-22 Radiall Ind HERMETIC COAXIAL CONNECTOR

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3420889A (en) 1989-10-05
GB8805913D0 (en) 1988-04-13
GB2215530B (en) 1992-07-29
JPH0727784B2 (en) 1995-03-29
WO1989008935A1 (en) 1989-09-21
EP0449817B1 (en) 1993-05-05
EP0449817A1 (en) 1991-10-09
HK122193A (en) 1993-11-19
JPH03504178A (en) 1991-09-12
GB2215530A (en) 1989-09-20

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKLA Lapsed
MKLA Lapsed

Effective date: 20020527